Research

African Journal of Rural Development Vol 4 Issue 4, 2019

Published

6 years ago

September 18, 2020

Mark Wamai

African Journal of Rural Development Vol 5 Issue 1 2020. Editorial Secretariat, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. Image: AFJRD

Agriculture is a vital activity that sustain millions of people livelihoods and build local, national and regional economies. Progress in agricultural development is expected to translate in living standards in rural areas, commodities value chains and commercialization. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, rural development faces a number of challenges such as poor soil restauration and agronomic practices leading to low agricultural productivity. Adding to this is the daunting task of securing food and enhancing food nutrition for the continent. This editorial of the African Journal of Rural Development introduces eight peer-reviewed journal papers that reflect on three key gaps areas deemed important for Africa in realizing the aspirations of the Agenda 2063. These include education, food nutrition and agriculture, including soil/agronomic practices, livestock and forestry. The information presented in these papers provides interesting insights on (i) soil fertility and soil water management through use of biochar produced from locally available sources as well as the need for monitoring of nitrate loading even at small scale; (ii) factors affecting citrus production and sawmill profitability and sustainability of wood resource utilization; (iii) production practices and quality defects of hides and skins, and gastrointestinal parasites in Angora goats; (iv) food nutrition and dietary intake patterns among agricultural households; and (v) capacity building the field of higher education, particularly the experiences on the implementation of the Intra Africa training initiative established by RUFORUM. It is our hope that the readers will find these information relevant for their own use and application in their respective fields.

Key words: soil water management; citrus; livestock; food nutrition; higher education

The African Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD) Editorial Secretariat is housed at the Makerere University Main Campus, Kampala Uganda.

Research

CARTA Fellow Tamale on Building Systems, Shaping Policy and Transforming Lives beyond the PhD

Published

2 weeks ago

October 6, 2026

Mark Wamai

Dr. Andrew Tamale, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and BioSecurity (CoVAB), Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa. Photo. CARTA.

A PhD can spark impact that extends far beyond academia. Meet CARTA graduate Andrew Tamale, whose journey demonstrates the multiplier effect of research capacity strengthening—from helping transform doctoral training and generating evidence that informed safer fish consumption practices, to strengthening One Health approaches for outbreak preparedness in Uganda and beyond.

Read full story

Source: CARTA News & Updates Issue 105

Research

CARTA Fellow Anywar Appointed UTANA Subject Matter Expert, Talks Medicinal Plants

Published

2 weeks ago

October 6, 2026

Mark Wamai

Dr. Godwin Anywar, Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University. Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Godwin Anywar, cohort 6, Makerere University, was appointed as a Subject Matter Expert on the Manuscript Technical Evaluators team of the Uganda Textbook Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association (UTANA) on August 31, 2026. In this role, Godwin will contribute to the qualitative, academic, and pedagogical assessment of manuscripts submitted under the Capacity Building for School Books Project (CB-SP). The four-year project, implemented jointly with the Department of Teacher Education and Training Development (TETD) of Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), aims to strengthen authorship and support the development of school books in Uganda’s education sector.

He was also featured in Uganda’s New Vision on July 26, 2026, in a special report on Uganda’s medicinal plants.

Source: CARTA News & Updates Issue 105

Research

Makerere Hosts TERID Hub Early Career Researchers Grant Writing Workshop

Published

2 weeks ago

October 6, 2026

Mark Wamai

The Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (TERID) Hub continued its efforts to strengthen the capacity of 17 early career researchers (ECRs) (10 men, 7 women) on an institutional level by holding a grant writing workshop from September 8 - 11, 2026, at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (TERID) Hub continued its efforts to strengthen the capacity of early career researchers (ECRs) on an institutional level by holding a grant writing workshop from September 8 – 11, 2026, at Makerere University. The workshop, attended by 17 ECRs (10 men, 7 women), strengthened participating researchers’ capacity by equipping them with critical skills to secure competitive funding. The intensive sessions bridged the gap between innovative academic concepts and fundable proposals, focusing heavily on decoding complex funder criteria and structuring compelling narratives. Participants prioritized the CONNECT-VAX call, which closely aligns with the Hub’s core work, and formed two groups: one on vaccine research and development capacity, the other on public trust and demand for vaccines manufactured in Africa.

Through this call, the Hub engaged collaborators from West Africa (Sierra Leone) and East Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) in developing two of its grant applications. Individual concepts on leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, tuberculosis, and pharmaceutical inventory management were also advanced, bringing the total to eight proposals across four funding calls, including Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MAK-RIF 8), Wellcome, and WHO/TDR.

To date, the Hub’s grant writing effort has attracted over USD 700,000. The workshop reinforced the Hub’s commitment to mentoring early-career researchers and championing research in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Source: CARTA News & Updates Issue 105